Recently, a delegation of overseas friends from Libreville, Gabon, and Monrovia, Liberia, visited Dongying City in east China’s Shandong Province. During their stay, they toured the Yellow River Estuary to explore Chinese culture and experience the festive atmosphere of the Chinese New Year ahead of the Spring Festival.

During the visit, Dongying–Africa Sister City Youth Friendship Exchange Meeting was held. Representatives from both sides engaged in in-depth exchanges in areas including economic and trade cooperation, education, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Young people from Dongying interacted closely with their African counterparts, introducing the distinctive cultural traditions and customs of the Yellow River Estuary while learning about African history, cultures, and local practices. Through open dialogue and shared experiences, the two sides explored potential avenues for future cooperation.

At the Yellow River Culture Museum and Jinhua Community, African guests explored the cultural heritage and local customs of the Yellow River Basin, gaining an appreciation of Dongying’s distinctive historical and cultural legacy. They personally practiced traditional Chinese calligraphy, writing the character “Fu” (symbolizing good fortune) and Spring Festival couplets with calligraphy brushes. Through this hands-on experience, they immersed themselves in the profound depth of traditional Chinese culture, experienced the unique charm of calligraphic art, and expressed their best wishes for the upcoming Year of the Horse.

African friends experience the calligraphy of Spring Festival couplets

Chinese and African friends jointly display the calligraphy of Spring Festival couplets

The year 2026 marks the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, providing a valuable opportunity to enhance the quality and effectiveness of cooperation across various fields between China and Africa. Dongying City will continue to use cultural exchange as an important bridge to advance cooperation and dialogue with African countries, striving to achieve new breakthroughs and reach new heights in bilateral engagement.